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Mom, Aaron , and I went to the Black Forrest in 1987. It was just a family day trip, so we were riding on a tour bus.

This was our last day in Germany. The next day we would board a plane and move back to America. Mom was looking forward to this trip, since she probably would not get another chance to see the Black Forrest.

For some reason, my brother was an absolute tyrant that day. He was rude, obnoxious, bratty, and defiant. In all fairness to Aaron, he did not normally behave this way. He was usually a good kid, but that day he was on a roll.

It started as soon as we boarded the bus. Aaron decided to block the aisle and tried to charge people a toll fee to pass by him. Mom was rather embarrassed, but the worst was yet to come.

We were walking around and admiring all the sites, then Aaron started crying about being thirsty. He was winning and about ready to have a full on tantrum. Mom stopped at one of the shops and bought us each a can of soda.

Aaron took the soda and stuffed them in his jacket. He refused to give me one of the cans and said he was “holding them for ransom.” I started yelling at Aaron and we were on the verge of a throwing punches, when Mom stepped in to put a stop to the whole thing. She snatched the soda cans away from Aaron and give him a good scolding.

Later in the day, we stopped at a shop that made baskets. In front of the store was a giant picnic basket for sale. It was so huge, Aaron could have crawled inside of it.

Aaron wanted Mom to buy the giant basket, but she refused. That set Aaron off again. He started yelling and screaming about the basket. Mom had reached her limit. She got in Aaron’s face and yelled, “I’ve had with you! I am changing my name. It’s not Mom or Rita anymore and I am leaving you here.”

Mom spun around and started walking away from Aaron. I was standing there in shock and wondering if she would come back for me.

Aaron tried calling out to her, but she didn’t respond. Aaron bellowed out, “Hey lady with the brown coat and the grey streak in your hair!”

Mom’s face was about to turn scarlet red. She was so angry, I expected to see smoke coming from her ears and nostrils. She grabbed ahold of Aaron and started walking away with him, without saying a word.

In spite of everything that happened that day, Mom still loved her son. The next day, Aaron was on the plane with us, instead of being left in the Black Forrest to be raised by wild animals.